Separating apparatus and method



July 30, 1935. T M EE N 2,009,609

SEPARAT ING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed A 27, 1928 INVENTOR Patented July 30, 1935 UNITED STATES SEPARATING APPABATU S AND METHOD Theodore M. Edison, East Orange, N. J assignor, by mesne assignments, to Fairfield Specialties Corporation, New York, N. L, a corporation of New York Application 7 August 27 1928, Serial No. 302,299

Renewed November 20, 1934 27 Claims;

My invention relates to improvements in means and methods for preventing fraud in convnection with check operated apparatus or the like, and the same has for its object to test 55 coins, tokens, checks, or like devices for genuineness and to retain or accept the genuine coin and refuse or reject the spurious or counterfeit checks or devices.

While especially designed for use in connection with change-making machines and vending and other coin-controlled machines iorthe purpose of preventing the operation of such 1 la chines otherwise than by coins of the proper value, my invention is equally well adapted, as to :15 certain features thereof, for other uses, as will hereinafter appear.

It is, of course, desirable to prevent the opera tion of any machine of the character referred to by spurious coins or by coins which differeither in size or value from those intended for use with the machine. For example, in the case of a machine for changing half-dollars and quarters :for nickels, it should be impossible to effect the :operation of the machine by inserting thereinto anything but a silver coin, and provision should also be made for permitting only coins of the proper sizes to effect the operation of the respecftlVB mechanisms for changing half-dollars and quarters. My invention assures the attainment of such and similar desirable results in an effective and simple manner.

My invention depends for its effectiveness up 011 the fact that when articles or devices of conductive material are caused to move in a course or path through a fluctuating or alternating magnetic field, eddy currents will be produced therein :and such field may be used to repel or retard said articles and deflect them from such path, the degree of deflection being dependent, among other the intensity of the eddy currents and the relation of s oh currents to the lines of force of the field; whereas other articles or materials when so moved, will be unairected by the field and will continue in such course or path without deflection.

Other objects and features of my invention will be hereinafter more specifically describedand explained.

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, attention is directed to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specifi cation, and in which the single figure is a perspective view of a simple form of apparatus embodying my invention and adapted to be utilized for separating good coins from spurious coins, as well as for separating coins of different sizes from each other.

The apparatus shown in the drawing is designed to separate half-dollars and quarters from things, upon the specific gravity of the materials,-

each other as well as from spurious coins and coins of other sizes and values, and accordingly, is adapted for application to machines having mechanisms intended to be actuated only by halfdollars and quarters, such as to change-making machines for coins of these two denominations.

Referring to the drawing, reference character i represents a base having secured thereto adjacent one end, as by means of screws 2, a standard 3 and having mounted thereon adjacent its other end, a box or receptacle R divided by suitable partitions. into coin compartments A, B, C, and D. Suitably supported by the standard 3 are coin-chutes or guideways 4, ii and l, the chutes 6 and 7 preferably being at right angles to the chute 4. Each of he chutes 4, b and l, is slightly inclined to the horizontal and comprises a main portion consisting of a side wall and a bottom wall disposed at right angles to each other and an upper end portion having a coin entranceslot, the said upper end portions being respectively designated 5, l2 and i3. The chutes l, 6 and l are also preferably tipped so that the coin entrance-slot and side wall of each chute are at a slight inclination to the vertical and the bottom wall inclines upwardly from said side wall to a slight degree. Accordingly, a coin or coinlike article directed into any of the chutes through the respective coin entrance-slot will, under the action of gravity, tend to roll down the chutes on edge, but in a slightly inclined position against the side wall of the chute. The upper end portion 5 of theguideway or chute 4 is designed to be secured within a suitable opening provided in the casing (not shown) of the machine to which the apparatus shown is adapted to be appliedand the slot in said end portion is of a size just sufficient to admit the largest coin, in the present case a half-dollar, intended to be used in such machine.

Reference characters -8 and 9 represent coin or articles or" less size to pass therebeneath; while" the deflectors is disposed at such a distance above said bottom wall as to be engaged by and deflect any coin or like article moving down the chute and the sizeof which is equal to or greater than that of a quarter, butto permit coins or articles of less size to pass therebeneath. To insure the direction of coins or coin-like articles which may be deflected by the deflectors 8 and 9 into the coin entrance-slots of the chutes 6 and 1 respectively, the said slots are flared at their upper or entrance ends and the bottoms of these slots are disposed closely adjacent and substantially flush with the bottom wall of the guideway or chute 4.

In the construction shown, the chutes 6 and I 'net M, when energized, creates an alternating field which includes aportion of each of the chutes 6 and I, which chutes are formed oi any suitable dielectric material. Articles moving down either of these chutes are of course subjected to the influence of this alternating field, for they are directed by the chute in a course or path passing through the field. -Accordingly, Where such-articles are composed of conductive material eddy currentsof various intensities, de-

pending upon the materials of which the respective articles are formed, I are induced in these articles as they pass through said field and such eddy currents tend toeffect adeflection of the articles'from the course or path in which they are moving. The repulsive impulse developed in any case depends on various factors, such as the electricalresistance of the material of the coin or device, the diameter and thickness of the device, the time during which the device is the magnetic field, the intensity and shape of the magnetic field, determined in part by the cross sectional area of theiron core at the ends, and-the frequency. of the magnetic pulsations. Theimpulse required to effect a desired deflection of a given coin or device depends on certain factors, such as the mass, moment of inertia, inclination, and the diameter of the device, and the velocity at which it'rolls or moves through the chute. It is therefore necessary to control,

adjust or coordinate these factors so that slugs or spurious devices of diversified compositions,

weights anddimensions can be readily detected and eliminated while acceptance of genuine devices or coins isinsured.

In the present invention I preferably employ.

for energizing magnet M ordinary alternating current of low frequency, and confine the magnetic flux-to a-path of high permeability through the iron core or pole I 4, said core l4 having a cross sectional area of an order commensurate. with the'area of the devices'or coins tested. so I that the body of the coin or check as it is guided past the pole i4 is subjected to the magnetic fluxconcentrated at the end of the pole. this reason the chutes 6 and T are disposed to For suitably guide the coin or check into effective --relation to the concentrated magnetic flux, the

inclination of the chutes causing retardation of silver coins; siveness -to eddy current effect and. devices of the velocity of the-checks so that the repulsive force acting on'the coin or device transversely to-thedirection of travel thereof is sufficient to cause lateral. deflection of the checks most responsive to the eddy current efiect, including the Metallic. devices of. lesser responnon-conductive materials are unafiected as they An A. C. magnet M is dispass the magnet M and will continue to move down the chutes 6 and 1 without deflection from the path in which they are directed by the latter. Slugs or other articles formed of various metals 'and alloys, such as lead, nickel, brass and the alloy of which copper ccins are formed, are not substantially deflected. Articles of silver, on the other hand, are very substantially deflected and articles of aluminum and metallic copper are deflected to a still greater degree.

As herein'before indicated, the apparatus shown is designed for application to a machine having mechanisms intended to be operated or controlled only by half-dollars and quarters respectively. The separation of the quarters and half-dollars from each other and also from coins of smaller size, coins of less value and spurious coins is effected in this apparatus as follows:

Half-dollars and articles of similar size, one of which is indicated at 15, when introduced into the apparatus through the coin entrance slot of guideway 4 roll down the latter and, as explained above, are directed by the deflector 8 into the coin chute 6; quarters and articles having a size equal to or greater than that of a quarter but less than that of a half-dollar, which articles are represented by reference characters It, i" and IE when introduced into the apparatus roll down guideway 4 beneath the deflector 8 and are directed by deflectors into coin chute l; while all coins or articles less in size than a quarter, such coins and articles being represented by reference character I'l, when so introduced into the apparatus roll down the guideway l beneath the deflectors 3 and S and are discharged from the lower end of the guideway. The small coins and like articles I! as theyleave the'lower end of guideway 4 may either be permitted to fall on the bottom of the casing for the machine to which the apparatus is applied or may be directed into a suitable recep tacle for subsequent removal from the machine. The quarters and other articles H3, H5 and I5 directed into the chute I will be separated in passing through'the chute as follows:

The good silver quarters i8 will, in passing the magnet M, be deflected, due to the eddy currents induced therein, so that they will be discharged from the lower end of the chute into the compartment A of receptacle R; the articles I6 comprising copper coins, discs of non-conductive material and slugs of brass, lead and nickel, will, 'in passing the magnet M, either not be deflected at all or to such a slight degree that they will be discharged from thelower 'end of the chute into the compartment B; while those articles IE formed of aluminum and metallic copper will, upon passing magnet M, be deflected to a still greater degree than the silver quarters i6 and will, as shown, fall from the chute wholly outside the receptacle R. 'In a similar manner, articles of the size of a half-dollar in rolling down the chute '6 will be separated so that the good silver halfdollars will be discharged from the chute into the compartment D, those formed of non-conductive material, lead, nickel, brass and copper alloys such as used for coins, will be discharged from the chute into the compartment C and those articles formed of aluminum and metallic copper will be discharged from the chute toa point wholly outside the receptacle R. To obtain a fur 'ther degree ofseparation of the aluminum and metallic copper articles from the good silver halfdollars and quarters and thereby prevent the discharge of such articles into either of the compartments A and D, the bottom walls ofthe' chutes B and 1 may be provided, as shown, at their outer edges with downwardly inclined lower end portions. The devices after deflection thereof continue to roll on edge because of the gyroscopic action thereof. The half-dollars and quarters may be conducted in any suitable manner from the compartments A and D to the respective change-rnaking mechanisms or other mechanisms to be actuated or controlled thereby. If desired, each of the compartments A and D may be made of such size or the relative arrangement of each of these compartments and the respective chute may be such, that the aluminum and metallic copper articles will be discharged with the good silver quarters and half-dollars into the respective compartments A and D; but under such circumstances the coins and aluminum and metallic copper articles so discharged into each or" the said compartments should be passed through another chute having an A. C. electro-magnet associated therewith so as to separate the silver coins from the said articles.

Strongly paramagnetic slugs such, for example, as those composed of iron or containing a considerable amount of iron introduced into a. guideway 4 through its coin entrance-slot may be removed from the guideway prior to reaching the deflector 8 in a manner well known to the art. In case however, these slugs be permitted to enter the coin chutes 6 and 1, they will be practically stopped in their movements down the chutes by the magnet M, and to prevent clogging of the apparatus, means may be pro vided for interrupting the circuit of the magnet so as to permit such slugs to roll down the chutes into the respective compartments B and C to join the other undeflected slugs and coins.

It is to be understood that my invention is capable of many mechanical expressions other than the apparatus shown and specifically described herein.

l-Iaving now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The method of testing a coin consisting in disposing a coin on edge in a leaning position, and then subjecting the coin on the side toward which it leans to an alternating magnetic field so as to kick the coin away from the magnetic field.

2. The method of testing a coin consisting in disposing a coin on edge in a leaning position, and then subjecting the coin on the side toward which it leans to an alternating magnetic field so as to kick the coin away from the magnetic field, with the leaning angle of the coin to a vertical line being sufficiently great that the coin will not be kicked from the magnetic field excepting if the coin is one of certain predetermined material. I I

3. A coin testing device comprising means for supporting a coin on edge in a leaning position, and means for subjecting the coin on the side toward which it leans to an alternating magnetic field so as to kick a coin of predetermined metal away from the magnetic field.

4. A coin testing device comprising an alternating current electromagnet, and means for supporting a coin on edge at a pole of said electromagnet with the coin leaning toward the magnet.

5. In apparatus of the class described, means for freely supporting coins and spurious devices on edge, and means associated with said supporting means for subjecting said object on one side or face thereof to an alternating magnetic field, said last named means developing an alternating magnetic field of an intensity to deflect genuine ciins by eddy current effect without substantial deflection by eddy current effect of devices of lesser responsiveness to eddy current effect.

6. In apparatus of the class described, an alternating current electromagnet, and means for freely supporting silver coins and spurious devices on edge with one side or face thereof adjacent to and facing a pole of said electromagnet, said magnet developing a magnetic field of an intensity to deflect the genuine device by eddy current effect without substantial deflection of devices of lesser responsiveness to eddy current effect.

'7. The method which consists in causing coins, tokens and like devices to gravitate into a fluctuating magnetic field concentrating on the device by confinement to path of high permeability and having a strength so related to the momentum of the devices that devices of relatively high responsiveness to eddy current effect are deflected by the repulsive action of said field into another path, and devices of lesser responsiveness to eddy current effect pass through th field without substantial deflection. i

8. The method which consists in causing coins, tokens and like devices to gravitate into a fluctuating magnetic fleld' concentrating o'n-the devi e by confinement to a path of high permeability and having an intensity sufficient to cause deflection of a genuine silver coin without causing deflection of spurious devices of less responsiveness to eddy current effect than the silver coin, and efiecting thereby the delivery of the genuine and spurious devices over different paths.

9. The method which consist in gravitationally guiding coins, tokens and like devicesinto a fluctuating magnetic field concentrating on the device by confinement to a path of high permeability having a strength so related to the momentum of the devices that devices of silver are repelled because of eddy current efiect into another path and devices of less responsiveness to eddy current effect pass through the field without substantial deflection from the original path thereof.

10. The method as defined in claim 9 in which devices, composed of metals of greater responsiveness to eddy current effect than silver, such as copper and aluminum devices, are deflected to a greater extent than the silver device and pass out over still another path.

11. The method which consists in causing coins, tokens and like devices to roll on edge into a fluctuating magnetic field, and effecting by the repulsive action of the field due to eddy current effect deflection of certain of the devices into another path.

12. The method which consists in causing coins, tokens and like devices to roll on edge downs wardly into a fluctuating magnetic field, and effeoting thereby deflection of certainv of the devices into another path, gyroscopic action being relied on to cause the device to roll in erect position after deflection.

13. The method which consists in causing coins, tokens or like devices to roll on edge downwardly into a fluctuating magnetic field effective at one side thereof to cause deflection of devices of relatively high responsiveness to eddy current eifect without causing deflection of devices of lesser responsiveness, and so deflecting the devicesinto another path that the deflected device continues to roll on edge to its destination.

14. In apparatus or" the character described, means for guiding coins, tokens and like devices gravitationally, said means having provision for the discharge of the devices therefrom over different paths, and a low frequency fluctuating electro-magnet having an iron core associated with said guiding means for producing a fluctuating magneticfield concentrated on the device entering the field, the strength of said field and the momentum of the devices being coordihated so that devices of high responsiveness to eddy current eifect are deflected into another path by the repulsive action of the field without causing deflection of devices of lesser responsiveness to eddy current effect from the original path.

15. In apparatus of the character described, an inclined chute having a bottom portion on which a coin, token or like device rolls on edge and a side portion for supporting the device latorally, and a fluctuating current electromagnet at the side of the chute for producing a magnetic field capable of causing repellant'deflection of devices of high responsiveness to eddy current eflect without causing deflection of devices of lesser responsiveness, the bottom portion of said chute being such as to allow the device to roll on edge after the deflection thereof.

16. In apparatus of the character described, means for gravitationally guiding coins, tokens or like devices, and a fluctuating current electromagnetic means having a core of high permeability associated with such guiding means, said core having a cross-sectional area concentrating the magnetic flux on the body of the device guided into the flux, and producing a field intensity sufficient to deflect by eddy current eiiect devices or high responsiveness to eddy current efiect' without causing substantial deflection of devices of less responsiveness.

17. In apparatus of the character described, means for gravitationally guiding coins, tokens or like metallic devices, and a fluctuating current electromagnetic means having a core of high permeability associated with said guiding means, said core having a cross-sectional area concentrating the magnetic flux on the body of the device passing through the flux, and said guiding means and said core coordinating the momentum of the device and the field intensity to cause deflection from said path of devices of high responsiveness to eddy current effect without 6811.15?

ing substantial deflection of devices of less responsiveness to eddy current eifect.

18. In apparatus of the character deseibed,

a chute for gravitationally guiding coins, tokens or like devices and including means for the passage of devices out over a deflected path, and an responsiveness.

19.,In apparatus of the character described,

,means for gravitationally guiding coins, tokens or like devices supported on edge, and means associated with some guiding means for subjecting the device on one side or face thereof toan alternating magnetic field, said last named means developing an alternating magnetic field suflicient to deflect certain devices having a predetermined responsiveness to eddy current effect without causing deflection of devices of less responsiveness.

29. In apparatus or" the character described, an alternating current eleotromagnet having a pole, and means for gravitationally guiding a coin, token or like device past said pole while supported on edge in position leaning towards said pole.

21. In apparatus of the character described, an inclined chute for guiding coins, tokens or like devices supported on edge, and an alternating current electromagnet having a pole associated with said chute and facing one side of the device passing down the chute, said pole developing a magnetic field of an intensity suiiicient to deflect certain devices having a predetermined responsiveness to eddy current effect without substantially deflecting devices of less responsiveness.

22. The method of testing coins, tokens or like which consists in causing the device to oil on edge into a fluctuating magnetic field con- "Lned to a path of high permeability and concenrated upon the device at one side thereof to cause deflection of devices of relatively high responsiveness to eddy current effect without causing deflection of devices of less responsiveness.

The method of testing coins, tokens or like devices which consist in gravitationally guiding device into an alternating magnetic field confined to a path of high permeability and concent-rated on the body of the device, the reaction being made efiective to cause deflection by eddy current effect of devices or" relatively high responsiveness thereto without causing deflect: n of devices of less responsiveness.

E l. The method of testing coins, tokens, or like devices which consists in gravitationally guiding the device into an alternating magnetic field confined to a path of high permeability and concentrated on the body or" the device, and coordinating the momentum of the device and the field intensity to cause deflection by eddy current effect of devices of high responsiveness Without causingsubstantial deflection of devices of less responsiveness. 7 2-5. The method of testing coins, tokens or like devices which consists in gravitationally guiding the device into an alternating magnetic field confined to a path of permeability and concentrated on the body of t -e device, the field intensity being made suificient to cause repulsion by eddy current effect of devices at least of the responsiveness of a silver coin without causing repulsion of devices of less responsiveness.

25. lhe method of testing coins, tokens or like devices which consists in causing the device to gravitate on edge in a leaning position, and then subjecting the device on the side towards which it leans to an alternating magnetic field so as to kick the device away from the magnetic field.

2'7. The method of testing a coin, token or like device which consists in causing the device to roll on edge into a fluctuating magnetic field confined to a path of highperrncability and concentratedupon the body of the device, and effecting, by the repulsive action of the field due to eddy current eflect, deflection of certain of the devices into another path.

THEODORE M. EDISON. 

